Rudbeckia plant named ‘BullRudi 14’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant having a compact growth habit and large, yellow-orange blooms with a brown center.

Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hirta L.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullRudi 14’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Rudbeckiaplant known by the varietal name ‘BullRudi 14’. The new variety wasdiscovered in August of 2017 in Gönnebeck, Germany as the result of aplanned breeding program with the purposes of providing Rudbeckia plantswith improved growth, more uniformity, a compact growth habit, betterbranching, attractive foliage, large blooms, and unique flower colors.The new variety is the result of a cross between an unpatented Rudbeckiahirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “BR273-2014”(female parent) and an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having aninternal breeder's reference of “BR83-2013” (male parent) from thebreeder's own collection. The new variety was first asexually reproducedvia in-vitro tissue culture cuttings in Gönnebek, Germany in Septemberof 2017. The new variety is similar to its parental varieties inbotanical classification, but exhibits larger flowers, increasedbranching, and more attractive foliage than both of its parentalvarieties. Further, its compact growth habit and brown flower centerdistinguish ‘BullRudi 14’ from its male parent.

When ‘BullRudi 14’ is compared to Rudbeckia hirta L. variety named‘Prairie Sun’ (unpatented), ‘BullRudi 14’ is similar to ‘Prairie Sun’ inbotanical classification, but ‘BullRudi 14’ exhibits improved plantquality, more uniform growth with increased self-branching, moreattractive foliage, and large, yellow-orange flowers with a brown centerthat distinguish it from ‘Prairie Sun’. Further, the followingcharacteristics distinguish ‘BullRudi 14’ when generally compared toother Rudbeckia varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   Large, yellow-orange blooms with a brown center;    -   Good self-branching;    -   An upright, compact, and uniform growth habit;    -   Healthy, green foliage;    -   Long bloom time;    -   Ease of growth; and    -   Unique flower color combination.

The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type throughsuccessive asexual propagations. The present invention has not beenevaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype ofthe plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at 18weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible withcolor illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 shows an entire plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via invitro tissue culture cuttings carried out in Gönnebeck, Germany. Plantsof the new variety were grown outdoors in 21 cm (4 liter) pots undernormal field production conditions, and the color readings andmeasurements were observed outdoors under natural light on 18 week oldplants in Gönnebeck, Germany. Color references are primarily to The 2015R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, SixthEdition, except where terms of ordinary significance are used.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 7-10 days at approximately 18° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 35-38 days at approximately 16-18° C.-   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:    About 11-14 weeks in a 21 cm container.-   Rooting habit: Exhibits numerous roots of medium thickness that are    freely branching and healthy in appearance.-   Plant height: 50.0-70.0 cm.-   Plant width: 35.0-50.0 cm.-   Vigor: Medium to high, with an upright, compact, and uniform growth    habit.-   Disease/pest resistance: Nothing unusual noted to date.-   Temperature tolerance: From −3 to +40° C.-   Drought tolerance: Average.-   Branching habit: Exhibits one dominant strong branch with several    lateral side branches. The lateral branches are upright, forming an    attractive habit.-   Branches (flowering stems):    -   -   Number per plant.—10-30.        -   Length.—10.0-40.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.0-10.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—2.0-10.0 cm.        -   Angle.—Upright and outward.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescence present.        -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A to 144B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Leaf.—Length: 6.0-25.0 cm. Width: 1.5-13.0 cm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute.            Margin: Dentate and undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough,            with pubescence present. Lower surface: Rough, with            pubescence present. Color: Young leaves: Upper surface:            Close to Green Group RHS 137B. Lower surface: Close to Green            Group RHS 137C. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Close to Green            Group RHS 137B to 137C. Lower surface: Close to Green Group            RHS 137D. Petiole: None present. Veins: Venation type:            Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Close to Yellow-Green Group            RHS 145C. Lower surface: Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS            145A.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Bud:    -   -   Diameter.—3.0-5.0 cm.        -   Length.—2.0-6.0 cm.        -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 151A.-   Appearance: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped disc    florets.-   Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs from June-October in    Gönnebeck, Germany, beginning approximately 10-12 weeks after    planting.-   Average number of inflorescences per plant: 10-30.-   Average number of inflorescences per branch: 1-5.-   Disc and ray floret arrangement: Disc florets are arranged in the    middle of the receptacle of the composite, single, freely flowering    plant, with ray florets extending outwardly therefrom.-   Fragrance: Unchanging.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Diameter.—13.0-20.0 cm.        -   Height (depth).—2.0-4.0 cm.        -   Diameter of disc.—2.5-6.0 cm.        -   Receptacle height.—1.0-1.5 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—4.0-8.0 cm.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number per inflorescence.—15-24.        -   Arrangement.—In one whorl.        -   Length.—5.5-9.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.0-4.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Emarginate.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower surface:            Rough.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Close to Yellow Group            RHS 14A with Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A from the base to            about the center. Lower surface: Close to Yellow-Orange            Group RHS 15B. At maturity: Upper surface: Close to Yellow            Group RHS 14A with Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A from the base            to about the center. Lower surface: Close to Yellow-Orange            Group RHS 15B. Ground color description: Yellow Group RHS            14A to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A.        -   Venation.—Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface:            Yellow, same color as the florets. Lower surface: Yellow to            light green.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number per inflorescence.—Numerous; too many to quantify.        -   Arrangement.—In the center of receptacle.        -   Length.—5.0-10.0 mm.        -   Width.—About 1.0 mm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Apex.—Five-pointed.        -   Color.—Immature: Close to Brown Group RHS 200B. At maturity:            Close to Brown Group RHS 200A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number per inflorescence.—30-40.        -   Arrangement.—In three whorls.        -   Length.—1.0-3.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0-8.0 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Elongated oval.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Undulate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence present.            Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.        -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS            138A. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS 138B. At            maturity: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS 138A.            Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS 138B.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:    -   -   Presence.—On disc and ray florets.        -   Number (per floret).—Numerous.        -   Filament length.—1.0-2.0 mm.        -   Filament color.—Brown.        -   Anther.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1.0 mm. Color: Brown.        -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow. Amount: Plentiful — too much to            quantify.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Presence.—In disc florets.        -   Pistil length.—About 2.0 mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Two-parted. Color: Close to Brown Group RHS            200B.        -   Style.—Length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Color: Close to Brown Group RHS            200B.-   Seeds:    -   -   Overall size.—Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Color.—Approximately Black Group RHS 202A.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rudbeckia plant named‘BullRudi 14’, as is herein illustrated and described.